Spellers battle for 18 rounds in K of C spelling bee

Posted February 18, 2014 10:00 pm

Submitted by Tom Loch

Eighteen sixth- through eighth-grade students, representing 10 area junior high and middle schools, competed in the 32nd annual Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee held Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Arlington Heights.

The first-place finisher was Clarissa Gomez of St. James School in Arlington Heights. The second-place finisher was Sydney Sadler, of Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights; and the third place finisher was Daisy Alvarado, of Carl Sandberg Junior High in Rolling Meadows.

The bee used 198 words and lasted for an exciting 18 rounds. Spellers battled through words such as shiatsu, vestigial and abstruse, before Clarissa Gomez spelled both bonsai and focaccia correctly to claim first place.

All three finalists have qualified to compete in the Regional Spelling Bee in March, where the top three finishers of the Regional Bee will qualify for the state tournament in April.

Schools and students participating in the Spelling Bee were:

Arlington Heights: Our Lady of the Wayside: Sarah Conneely and Emily Styzinski; St. James Junior High School: Clarissa Gomez and Tony Toczycki; St. Peter School: Alexi Armoush; South Middle School: Abby Citterman and Lilly Greifenstein; and Thomas Middle School: Sydney Sadler and Martina Macaggi.

Buffalo Grove: St. Mary School: Shannon Godsell.

Mount Prospect: Holmes Junior High School: Madhuvani Gowrabathuni and Stephanie Montesinos; and St. Emily School: Christine Kim, Jena Woods.

Rolling Meadows: Carl Sandburg: Daisy Alvarado and Alex Hong; St. Colette School: Daniel Fecko and Samantha Shirmer.

The bee was hosted by Holy Rosary Council #4483 of Arlington Heights, and co-sponsored with Mount Prospect Council #6481 and Our Lady of the Grove Council #13448 from Buffalo Grove.

All public and private junior high schools and middle schools serving Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Long Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, and Wheeling were invited to send two representatives to participate.

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The finalists of the 2014 Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee are: Seated: Clarissa Gomez, first place; and standing from left: Daisy Alvarado, third place and Sydney Sadler, second place. Courtesy of Knights of Columbus